Photogeology: Part F: reinterpretations of the northern Nectaris Basin

Abstract

Geologic units of the Nectaris Basin rim have been interpreted as partly impact and partly volcanic in origin (refs. 29-4, 29-21, 29-35, 29-38, and 29-39). An exclusively volcanic origin was proposed for the material in the vicinity of the Apollo 16 landing site, slightly northwest of the Nectaris Basin (ref. 29-36). In view of the dominance of breccia and the paucity of volcanic material in the returned Apollo 16 samples, it now seems appropriate to reevaluate this part of the Moon to test whether the geology of the units mapped to date can be reconciled with an impact origin. Therefore, photogeologic analysis was attempted on a strip of Apollo 16 metric photographs; the superior quality and stereographic properties of the photography permit this reevaluation (fig. 29-32). Geologic contacts, as redrawn, closely resemble those of the earlier maps cited, but some differences result because of improved photographic quality and a conscious attempt to test fully the impact hypothesis.